Mounting plate and face assembly



Feb. 14, 1933. .1. ZUBAT'Y ET AL. 1,897,966

MOUNTING DLATE AND FACE ASSEMBLY Filed June 27, 1951 Patented Feb. 14, 1933 UNETD JOSEPH ZUBATY AND DGN E. KEENEY, 0F FLINT, CI'IC-Ifl, ASSI-NBS T0 A. C SPARK LUG- COMPANY, OF ELINT, MCHGAN, A COMPANY 0.? ldCHGAN MOUNTING PLATE AND' FACE ASSEMBLY Application led .T une 27,

This invention relates to instrument panels and has particular reference to instrument panels applied to the instrument boards of automotive vehicles.

The invention has for its object to construct an instrument panel ot stampings ot relatively thin metal and thereby effect economies in production cost and ease in assembly which have proved to be of great advantage over prior constructions.

rlhe instrument panel ot the invention compri es a metal sheet, preferably rounded at its ends and having a plurality ot ribs pressed therefrom intermediate its ends to add strength to the panel. Th panel is also provided With plurality oi axially arranged openings through each or which a bezel projects outwardly away from the plane of the panel. Each bezel has laterally extending Wing portions which project above and beloyv the bezel and tit tightly against the panel baci; Where they are spot Welded in place. Glass Windows are placed at the backs ot the bezels. integral tongues pressed from the bezel Wings are bent over the Windows and hold them in place. The instrument board is formed with openings of a size and number adapted to receive the bezels and when in position on the instrument boar l, the bezels will be substantially flush, or in the saine plane with the instrument board. A decorative or embellishment plate may now be placed on the panel to cover the bezels outside of the usual bead and the joint bet-Ween the bezels and panel.

On the drawing:

Figure l is a vieuv of the instrument board ot an automotive vehicle with the novel panel in place, parts being broken avray tor purposes ot clearer illustration.

Figure 2 is a tron-t view of the panel per se separated from the instrument board.

Figure 3 is a sectional view in the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure Ll is an expanded view ot the parts.

Figure 5 is a sectional detail.

Referring to the drawing, 2 designates the instrument board of a vehicle and the novel panel of the invention. The panel includes a plate which is preferably rounded at its on and 34, the connecting portion 36,

he ornamental outwardly projecting b at. Each bezel is .provided with a central oi; to render visible the instrument [Inn lace. The raised portion 3U ot the bezels is formed exactly to tit the operings l0, 12, ist. i6, or i8, 1i the panel and to project outwardly and away therefrom by a thickness equal to the thiclniess ot the instrument board. rllhe portions extend above and below the openm and tightly tit against the bach et the instrument sanel extending fr `n top to bottom thereof and are spot Welded t`` i 11o as indicated at 39. Agt their ends the gs are flanged as shown at to correspond to a tlanfre which 'eX-ends entirely around the ends ot the panel to give it added througn the panel openings, there is positioied gasket and a glass Window 46. Tile bezel tas a plurality of tongues i8 p yessed from the *wing portions at the Window and the Window isv held in place by .ending these tongues over the Window edge i hoyvn at 50. rllhe panel is fastened to the instrument casings by crimping the panel edge over onto th casigs shown at 5l in lFigure 5.

lli-dien the panel is placed in the instrument board the board -will have openings corresponding` to tgie open' s l0, l2. la, 1G and 18 a l the projecting portions of the bezels will through the openings and leave a ally coplanar surtace between the .Y .,n,. l. 4.1 1, 1 3 L .L outer piane oi Lne eener projections and the outer surface ol4 the instrument board. A decorative or embellishing panel or sheet 52 tlS may now be applied and have openings 54 which correspond in shape to the outline of the raised ornamental ribs 38 of the bezels. This decorative panel will therefore cover all of the exposed portion of the bezel around the rib 3S, as well as the joint between the bezel and instrument board.

From the above description, it will be evident that by using a bezel plate with a differently shaped rib and defining a dierent sized opening, itis possible to make a wide range of variations in appearance of the instruments, the decorative panel 52 being changed by changing the shape of the openings to go around the ribs 38.

lWe claim:

l. In an instrument panel, a plate having a plurality of openings arranged along its cenline, a plurality of bezels, one for each opening, spot welded to the back of the panel and having projecting portions extending through the openings and projecting away from the panel, a glass in each bezel over the opening therein, a plurality of tongues pressed from the bezel and bent over said glass to hold it in position, a strengthening flange around the bezel, strengthening ribs between each pair of openings, an instrument board on which the panel is placed, said board having openings conforming to the openings in the panel, said bezels projecting through said openings to a substantially coplanar position.

2. The combination of an instrument board having a plurality of apertures therein for the display of instruments, an instrument panel comprising a plate mounted at the rear of the panel having apertures therein alining with the apertures in the panel, instruments mounted at the rear of the panel provided with bezels having forwardly projecting portions eXtending within and fitting said alined apertures, said bezels being provided with forwardly projecting portions lying within said first-named forwardly projecting portions and a finishing plate overlying said panel and having apertures therein fitting said last-named forwardly projecting por'- tions.

3. The combination of an instrument board having a plurality of apertures therein for the display of instruments, an instrument panel comprising a plate mounted at the rear of the panel having apertures therein alining with the apertures in the panel, instruments mounted at the rear of the panel provided with bezels having forwardly projecting portions extending within and fitting said alined apertures, said bezels being provided with forwardly projecting portions lying within said first-named forwardly projecting por- `tions and a finishing plate overlying said panel and having apertures therein fitting said last-named forwardly projecting portions, transparent covers mounted within the forwardly projecting portions of said bezels, said bezels being provided with integral tabs bent over to hold said covers in position.

4. The combination of an instrument board having a plurality of apertures therein for the display of instruments, an instrument panel comprising a plate mounted at the rear of the panel having apertures therein alining with the apertures in the panel, instruments mounted at the rear of the panel provided with bezels having forwardly projecting portions extending within and fitting said alined apertures, said bezels being provided with forwardly projecting portions lying within said rst-named forwardly projecting portions and a finishing plate overlying said panel and having apertures therein fitting said last-named forwardly projecting portions, said plate being provided with vertical sti'ening ribs pressed rearwardly therefrom and lying between said openings.

5. The combination of an instrument panel having an opening therein, an instrument housing, a bezel secured to the front of the housing provided with a forwardly projecting stepped portion adapted to fit the opening in the panel, said stepped portion being provided with a second forwardly projecting stepped portion within the first-named portion, and a finishing plate secured to the front of the panel having an opening therein fitting said second-named forwardly projecting portion.

6. The combination of an instriunent panel having an opening therein, an instrument housing, a bezel secured to the front of the housing provided with a forwardly projecting stepped portion adapted to fit the opening in the panel, said stepped portion being provided with a second forwardly projecting stepped portion within the first named portion, and a finishing plate secured to the front of the panel having an opening therein fitting said second-named forwardly projecting portion, a transparent cover mounted within said first-named forwardly projecting stepped portion, and means for holding said cover in position.

In testimony whereof we afiiX our signaj tures.

JOSEPH ZUBATY. DON E. KEENEY. 

